U.S. farmers are facing one of the widest gaps between what they pay to produce food and what they earn from selling it. Investigate Midwest said it’s the largest gap farmers have seen between income and expenses in ten years.
New USDA data released in December shows that by October 2025, the prices paid index climbed to 154.6, while the prices received index had fallen to 120.5. The agency measured that against 2011 levels, which are set to 100, making it easier to see how it’s changed over time.
Investigate Midwest said, “In practical terms, that means production costs were over 50 percent higher than in 2011, while the prices farmers received were only about 21 percent higher.” That gap of 34.1 index points in October was the biggest gap going back at least a decade.
Terrain Ag is projecting slightly higher operating costs for 2026 corn and soybean crops.
